Shuttle



F. M. & W. B. PIERCE.

SHUTTLE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-2. 91s.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E? Z a F. M. & W. B. PIERCE. SHL |TTLE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-2,1915-1,196,023. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. M. & W. B. PIERCE.

SHUTTLE.

SPPLICATION FILED 1AN.2. 1915.

1,196,023. Patented Aug. 29,1916

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. PIERCE AND WILLIAM B. PIERCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORSTO PIERCE WRAPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

SHUTTLE.

Original applications filed August 11, 1910, Serial No. 576,758, andAugust 7, 1911, Serial No. 642,685.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Divided and this application filed January 2, 1915. Serial No. 305.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK M. Prunes and WILLIAM B. PIERCE, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of the city of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shuttles; and we do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This-invention relates to a hollow shuttle adapted to carry folds ofpapers, and constitutes a division of our copending applications forpatent for wrapping machines, filed August 11, 1910, Serial No. 576,758,and wrapping machines, filed August 7, 1911, Serial No. 642,685. In thisparticular type of shuttle the wrapping paperis laid in are shaped foldswithin the shuttle, and the strip is drawn through a small openingprovided in the inner wall of the shuttle across to the opposite side ofthe shuttle and thence through a tension device and folding mechanism,and is finally led to the article being wrapped.

lt is an object therefore of this invention to construct a sectionalshuttle having a chamber therein adapted to carry folded wrappingmaterial, and provided with tension and folding devices for the wrappingmaterial to insure proper application thereof to an article beingwrapped.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a sectional shuttlethe sect ons of which are hingedly connected to Permit the shuttle to beopened for insertion of an article to be wrapped thereinto, and withspring latchingmeans to lock the sections when the-same are moved intoclosed position, and with the wrapping material laid in are shaped foldsconcealed within said shuttle. I p

' It is furthermore an important object of this invention to constructan annular hollow sectional shuttle to permit the same to be opened topermit insertion of an article to be wrapped thereinto, after which thesections are swung into closed position, auto- In the drawings: Figure 1is a side eleva tion of a wrapping machine with which a shuttleembodying the principles of our invention is used. Fig. 2 is a top planview thereof. Fig. 3is a reduced rear elevation of a shuttle. Fig. 4 isa slightly larger sectional view taken therethrough, showing parts inelevation. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the shuttle. view of the latchfor closing the outer wall of the shuttle. Fig. 7 is a view taken online 77 of Fig. 52 Fig. 8 is a view in elevation taken in the directionof the arrows on line 8--8 in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is an enlargedsectionaldetail taken on line 99 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a transverse section ofthe shuttle showing the tension adjusting mechanism in elevation. Fig.11 is an enlarged elevation taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 4, showing theopposite side of the folding device from that shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12is a front end elevation thereof. Fig. 13 is a section taken on line13'l3 of Fig. 10, taken longitudinally of the tension adjustingmechanism and showing the adjusting bolt and web member in elevation.Fig. 14 is a section taken on line 14--14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 of another form of shuttle. Fig. 16 is a section online 16-16 of Fig. 15.

As shown in the drawings, the shuttle hereinafter described is shownassociated with a tire wrapping machine of which onl a side and top viewis herein illustrate these being suflicient to show the position andrelation of the shuttle thereto. The machine briefly described consistsof upright frame members 1 and 2, and mounted Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail in the frame of the machine adjacent said side members arevertical cylindrical guide bars 3, having slidably supported thereon :1carriage 4. Said carriage is provided near the rear end thereof on eachside with outwardly extending upper and lower brackets having securedthereon sleeves 5, in vertical alinement adapted to engage around saidguide rods 3.

' J ournaled horizontally at the front and rear of the carriage betweenthe side members thereof are friction rollers 6 and 7, respectively, ofrelatively large size, the surface of which may be milled or slightlyroughened or covered with any suitable investing material to assist infrictionally driving the article to be wrapped when supported thereon.The shafts for said frictional rollers or wheels 6 and 7, are extendedbeyond the side frame members of the carriage on one side thereof, andare provided eaclr with sprocket Wheels 8, to receive a sprocket chain9, about the same whereby said rollers are driven simultaneously and atequal rates in the same direction.

A driving shaft 10, is journaled on the front and rear portions of theframe, and is provided with a driving pulley 11, which is securedthereon by means of a suitable clutch, denoted as a whole by thereference numeral 12. Said shaft is provided with a worm 13, near therear side of the machine, which meshes with a worm gear 14, secured on avertical shaft 15, on which is feathered a bevel gear 16, which mesheswith a bevel gear 17, secured on the end of the shaft for the frictionpulleys before described, so that said friction pulleys or wheels aredriven continuously from the driving shaft independent of the verticaladjustment of the carriage. Also secured on said shaft 10, di-

rectly above the middle of the carriage before described, are parallelguide disks 18 and 19, which are of substantially equal diameter and ofwhich, as shown, the rear disk comprises a plain inner supporting rimand an outer geared rim 20. Secured upon a shaft 21, on the oppositeside of the ma chineand parallel to the shaft 10, are correspondingidler guide and supporting disks 22 and 23, respectively. Said fourdisks support thereon and therebetween the annular revoluble shuttlewherein is carried the wrapping material. Said shuttle comprises twosegment members articulated together and affording therein a compartmentto receive the wrapping material. Said shuttle consists of aperturedside wall members 24 and 25, articulated together at their meeting endsby means of a rivet 26, secured thereto to afford a pintle. Said sidewalls are connected transversely by means of webs or plates 27 and 28,respectively, affording one end of the carton compartments formed by therespective shuttle sections and also by means of transverse pins orrivets 29, on diametrically opposite sides thereof which hold the sidewalls of the shuttle spaced equal distances apart and which also serveto secure thereto the lower half 30, of the sheet metal outer peripheralwall for the shuttle. As shown also, the meeting ends of theshuttlesegments are provided with transverse end walls 31 and 32,respectively, which abut against each other when the shuttle is closed,and are provided with registering apertures through which extends aspring pressed bolt 33, secured in one of the shuttle sections. Asshown, approximately half the outer peripheral wall for the shuttle ishinged to open outwardly therefrom to permit the insertion of wrappingmaterial X, in the folded half, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. For thispurpose a short leaf 34, is engaged in each of the pintles 29, and isconnected by means of a pintle 35, with longer leaf sections 36 and 37,,respectively. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the section 36, isprovided with a tongue 38, adapted to pass through a corresponding slotin the outer end of the section plate 37, and to rest upon a transversebar 39, secured across said slot-on the inside of said plate at theextremity thereof. A bolt 40, is slidably engaged on the inner side ofthe plate 37, and at its outer end curves upwardly and outwardly toengage over the tongue 38, on the plate 36. As shown pulling springs 41,are secured on said bolt and on the rigidly mounted transverse bar 39,and act to hold said bolt forwardly or in engaging position, and fingerapertures are provided through both of said plate sections 36 and 37, topermit the retraction of the bolt to release said plates the one fromthe other. Said shuttle is provided on its forward side wall with aperipheral rim or flange 42, which tracks upon and between guide disks19 and 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and on its rear side wallis provided with a corresponding flange or rim 43, to track on thecorresponding portion 20, of the guide disk 18, and the guide disk 22,and a geared rim 44, is secured on the outer side of said rim 43, tomesh with the geared portion 20, of said guide disk 18, so that theshuttle thereby is continuously driven from the driving shaft 10. Therespective shuttle sections are provided with the inner peripheral walls45 and 46, respectively, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

Parallel guide rollers 47 and 48, respectively, are provided near thehinge in the inner peripheral wall 46, of the shuttle near the hinged,end of the inner walls and between which the paper or other wrappingstrip X, is fed outwardly. Mechanism is provided to prevent any portionof the wrapping material folding when the shuttle is opened or closed,due to engagement between the hinged portions of the shuttle. For thispurpose, as shown, a transverse bar or plate 49, is secured flush withthe inner wall 46, and in close relation with said guide rolls andsecured thereon is a spring plate or bridge member. 50, which extendswithin the other shuttle section and bears on the inner wall '45,thereof, as clearly shown in Figs.4 and 7, so that when the shuttleopens the package of wrapping material within the shuttle is supportedthereon at the middle.

Within a compartment or space provided therefor on the end of theshuttle section from which the wrapping material is drawn,

as shown in Fig. 4, is a tension device for" the wrapping material andalso a folding mechanism for folding the wrapping strip longitudinallybefore wrapping the same about the body to be wrapped. Said tensiondevice comprises a spring plate 51, se-

cured transversely in the end of said shuttle section and free near theouter periphery of said section. Pivotally engaged upon a pintle 52,extending through the side walls of the section is a lever 53, the outerend (or that directed toward and bearing against the free end of thespring 51) having a roller 54, j ournaled thereon. Secured on the innerend of said lever 53, is an angular sleeve 55, into which extends awedge member 56, comprising a .nut threaded on a screw shaft 57,extending through the side walls of the section, and provided with ahead at one. end shaped to be engaged by a suitable tool to rotate saidscrew shaft to adjust the wedge inwardly or outwardly, and therebyspring the end of the lever toward or from the spring plate 51. Asshown, a leaf spring 58, is engaged at its end on said end of the lever,and tends at all times to hold the inner end of the lever outwardly fromthe wedge, as shown in Fig. 13.

Pivotally engaged in the end of the shut tle segment adjacent the roller54, for the tension device, is the folder for the wrapping material.This comprises, as shown, a plate 59, engaged at one end on a suitablepin or pintle 60, secured through the side walls of the shuttle sectionand curved outwardly from the roller 54, and directed inwardly towardthe article to be wrapped. Integrally connected therewith at one sidethereof is a guide plate 61, of sufiicient width at the entrance endthereof to receive the paper at its full width, and tapering toward itsfree extremity to aflord a narrow restricted exit nozzle and turned atits free edge over the plate to bend or fold the wrapping materialthereover as it is drawn therethrough. Within a correspondingcompartment in the other shuttle section a wire spool or bobbin 62, isjournaled, and adjacent thereto is a tension roller 63, p ovided with acentral groove thereon about which the wire may be turned one or moretimes to afford the requisite tension before being applied to thearticle to be wrapped. As shown, the hub (34, of the wire bobbin, isrelatively large and is journaled upon a screw or bolt 65, which extendsthrough said hub and is threaded into the side wall of the shuttlesection.

The bolt 33, whereby the shuttle sections are locked in closed position,is pivotally engaged on a suitable pintle 66, extending through theshuttle sections and is normally held in engaging position by means of aspring 67, which bears on the free end or tail thereof, as clearly shownin Fig. 4. A serrated cutter (i8, is provided at the end of the shuttlesections adjacent the folder in convenient position to permit thewrapping material to be pressed thercagainst to sever the same after thewrapping of the article is completed.

In Figs. 15 and 16 we have shown a modified form of device wherein theshuttle coniprises an annular casing constructed of any suitablematerial, and which may be of two sections, equal or otherwise, aspreferred, and consist of an inner wall 69 and side walls 70, which areapertured to permit inspection of the contents. Said sections, as shownin the drawings, are hinged together by means of a bolt or pintle 71,engaging the lead section of each side wall togcther, but affording noobstruction to the interior of the shuttle. The folded wrappingmaterial, which is designated by the reference numeral 72, is first laidinto a carton or cartridge 73, constructed as shown of thin sheet metal,and the carton or cartridge containing said folded paper is then placedinto the shuttle substantially as before described, and is firmlyretained in place by detents 74, secured one" in each shuttle sectionand adapted to protrude from the wall thereof to engage the cartridge.An outer wall 75, is provided on each of the shuttle sections, andcoacts with said inner and side walls to form a pocket receiving theends of the cartridge 73, for the paper thereinto. Each of the shuttlesections is, as in the construction previously described, provided withan end wall denoted respectively by the reference numerals 76 and 77,and at the extremity of each of said shuttle sections is an end orterminal wall 78 and 79, respectively, which abut one another when theshuttle is closed. Secured upon said respective walls 76 and 77, arestrong leaf springs 80, which bear against the ends of the cartridge 73,holding the same toward the detents 74, which maintain the sameassociated with the shuttle sections. A spring pressed latch bolt 81,normally projects through registering apertures in the abutting endwalls 78 and 79,

to lock said shuttle sections in closed relation, and a leaf spring 82,is engaged on the wall 79, and presses upon the tail of said latch bolt81, to hold the same at all times in locking engagement. Apertures 83,are provided in the walls 75, of the shuttle sections to permitengagement thereinto of mechanisms forming a part of the wrappingmachine which act to swing the shuttle sec- 'tions open about the pintlc71, and the insertion into said apertures of mechanism for the purposecauses the tail of the latch bolt 81, to be thrown upwardly against thestress of the spring, thereby unlatching the shuttle sections. As in theconstruction previously described the paper 72, is laid in are shapedfolds within the cartridge members, and the inner end of the strip isdrawn outwardly through the inner wall 69, of one of the shuttlesections between rollers 84, on each side of a slot in said inner wall,and thence threaded through mechanism disposed within the compartmentformed between the walls 77 and 79, of one of the shuttle sections,which act to fold the material longitudinally upon itself as the stripis drawn therethrough during the wrapping operation. This mechanismcomprises a tension plate 85, and a folder nozzle 86, the paper beingdrawn first through the tension plate and then around and through thefolder nozzle and then led to the article being wrapped which isindicated by the character Z. As before described, a reel 87 is mountedwithin the compartment afforded in the other shuttle section between thewalls 76 and 7 8,upon which a coil of wire is wound and the wire,indicated by the reference numeral 88, is led therefrom around asuitable tension roller 89, and thence to the article being wrapped,being applied simultaneously with the paper wrapping.

The operation is as follows: The article to be wrapped is inserted intothe machine resting upon the respective rollers 6 and 7, in uprightposition, the shuttle of course having been first opened to receive thearticle therein and then locked in closed position. The wrappingmaterial X, is then drawn through the tension device and foldermechanism of the shuttle, as shown in Fig. 4, and applied to the articleindicated by the letter Z in Fig. 4, and shOWn in dotted lines. Theclutch member 12, on the drive shaft 10, is next engaged by shiftingcertain of the levers, whereby the shaft 10, is driven, thereby rotatingthe shuttle, due to the direct drive from the gear 20, and also drivingthe feed rollers 6 and 7 from the worm 13, on said shaft 10, whichdrives the shaft 15, so that the article to be wrapped is rotated at arelatively slow but uniform rate. Owing to the high speed of rotation ofthe shuttle the package of folded paper therein is thrown outwardlv bycentrifugal action, re-

lieving all pressure from the inner folds of the paper from which thestrip is drawn, thus obviating any tendency to tear the paper. The paperpasses around the tension roller 47, and thence through the folderbefore described where the paper is folded longitudinally, so that theouter edge of the spirally wrapped strip upon the article is of doublethickness when applied. Then the wrapping is completed the strip issevered upon the cutter 68, and the clutch 12, having been disengaged,the shuttle is opened by positioning the same with the respectiveabutment walls 31 and 32, thereof, disposed on the lower side and afterunlatching the bolt 33, swinging the hinged sections upwardly.

The construction of the shuttle permits a maximum quantity of wrappingmaterial to be contained therein to enable a large number of objects tobe wrapped without refilling the shuttle, and furthermore, inasmuch asthe wrapping material is withdrawn from the inner folds of the foldedmaterial no resistance to withdrawal is exerted, due to the weight ofthe paper in the shuttle. The paper is inserted into the shuttle alreadyfolded by retracting the bolt 40, whereby the hinged sections 36 and 37,are unlocked, and folding said hinged sections outwardly away from oneanother, affording an unobstructed access to the interior of theshuttle. The wire bobbin may, of course, be removed when not required.When required, the wire is passed around the object and wound over thepaper, both being applied simultaneously. When the shuttle is opened,the plate 50, within the shuttle, which is secured to the inner wall ofone of the sections, is drawn along the inner wall of the other sectionto bridge the gap between the shuttle sections and to support the innerlayers of the wrapping material away from the gap, so that the samecannot be pinched therein when the shuttle is again closed.

We have shown preferred forms of a shuttle capable of operating at highspeed and we have referred in the specification to the wrapping ofannular bodies. It is obvious, however, that numerous variations andmodifications in the construction of the shuttle may be made withoutdeparting from the principles of this invention, and that the machineusing such a shuttle is adaptable to wrapping bodies of any kind thatmay be passed through the eye of the shuttle, as, for example, a rod,bar or tube, and many other objects. We therefore do not purposelimiting the .patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the priorart.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a wrapping machine an annular shuttle having a compartment thereinto receive folded wrapping material, and a tension device for saidmaterial on the inner side of the shuttle.

2. In a wrapping machine a chambered, rotatable shuttle having wrappingmaterial therein in concentric folds, a folding nozzle through which thewrapping material is drawn from the inner side the folded package ofwrapping material and acting to fold the wrapping materiallongitudinally and direct it spirally around the material wrapped.

3. In a wrapping machine a rotatable annular shuttle havingconcentrically folded wrapping material therein discharging through theinner periphery, the shuttle thereby utilizing centrifugal force toobviate internal resistance to the feed of the wrapping material.

4. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable hollow, annularshuttle carrying folded wrapping material therein, having layers thereonarranged concentric with the axis of the shuttle.

5. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable shuttle comprisinghingedly connected segments adapted to be opened to receive the articleto be wrapped through the eye thereof and affording when closed achamber to receive a package of folded wrapping material, means lockingthe shuttle closed, an eduction aperture for the wrapping material, andmeans for folding the edge of the wrapping material longitudinallyduring wrapping.

6. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable hollow shuttleaffording an interior chamber for a package of folded wrapping materialhaving layers arranged concentric with the axis of the shuttle, and atension and folding device supported on and by said shuttle throughwhich the wrapping material is drawn in wra ping, said shuttle having anaperture in t e inner periphery thereof through which the wrappingmaterial is drawn from the inner side of the package.

7 In a machine of the class described, an annular rotatable shuttlecomprising hingedly connected segments adapted to be opened to receivethe article to be wrapped through the eye thereof and affording whenclosed an unobstructed chamber to receive a package of folded wrappinmaterial, means locking the shuttle close a removable wall on theshuttle for insertion of wrapping material, an eduction aperture for thewrapping material in the inner wall of the shuttle, and means forfolding the wrapping material longitudinally during wrap ing.

8. n a wra ping machine a rotatable shuttle adapte to contain wrappingmaterial laid in a series of arc'shaped folds.

9. In a device of the class described, an annular rotatable shuttle, yachamber therein shaped to receive concentric folds of wrapping materialand retain the same in such form and having an aperture to permit thewithdrawal of said material, and a tension and folding device mounted onthe shuttle substantially opposite to said aperture.

10. In a wrapping machine of the class described, a shuttle comprisinghingedly connected sections adapted to receive folded wrapping materialtherein.

11. In a device of the class described, a shuttle comprising hingedlyconnected sections adapted to receive concentric layers of foldedwrapping material, locking means for said shuttle sections, and aplurality of mechanisms on said shuttle for applying said material to anarticle to be wrap ed.

12. In a device of the class descri ed, a shuttle comprising hingedlyconnected sections having a compartment extending from one section tothe other for containing concentric layers of folded wrapping material,each of said sections also provided with a smaller compartment, andmechanisms within each of said smaller compartments for applying thewrapping material to an article being wrapped.

13. In a device of the class described, a rotatable shuttle adapted tocarry wrapping material loosely therein, means on sai shuttle to supportthe wrapping material against centr1fugal force, and an outlet on theinner side of the shuttle to permit withdrawal of the wrapping materialtherethrough.

14. In a device of the class described, a rotatable shuttle adapted tocarry wrapping material loosely folded in layers, means on said shuttleto support said wrapping material as the same is held outwardly bycentrifugal force when the shuttle rotates, and a feed mechanism topermit passage of the wrapping material to an article being wrapped,said shuttle provided with an o ening in the inner peripheral wallthereof t rough which said material is fed from theinner layer.

15. In a device of the class described, a

rotatable shuttle adapted to carry la ers of loosely folded wrappingmaterial, a eeding outlet on the inner side of the shuttle to permitwithdrawal of the wrapping material from the innermost layer, and meanson said shuttle to permit the wrapping material to be pressed thereaainst to sever the same from an article which has been wrapped.

16. In a device of the class described, a sectional shuttle adapted torotate, carrying layers of loosely folded wrappin material held inosition by centrifugal orce with the weig t of said wrapping material onthe outermost layer thereof, mechanism associated with said shuttle topermit withdrawal of said material from the innermost layer, and meanspivoted on one of the shuttle sections adapted to engage the other ofsaid sections to lock the same together.

17. In a device of the class described a hollow annular shuttlecomprising segments separable to permit said shuttle engaging throughthe eye of an annular body, a section in a wall of the shuttle adaptedto be opened to admit insertion into the shuttle of a package ofwrapping material, and a bridge member engaged in one of said segmentsand slidable in the other to support the wrapping material at'the gapbetween the sections when the shuttle is open.

18. In a device of the class described a hollow annular shuttlecomprising segments separable to permit said shuttle engaging throughthe eye of an annular body, a part of one wall of the shuttle beingremovable to admit insertion into the shuttle of a package of wrappingmaterial, and a bridge member engaged on one of said segments andslidable in the other to support the wrapping material at the gapbetween the sections when the shuttle is open and means holding saidremovable wall section closed normally.

19. In a machine of the class described an annular shuttle comprising aplurality of sections hingedly connected, a compartment in one or moreof said sections for wrapping material adapted to be loosely containedtherein, and a bridge acting to support the wrapping material when theshuttle is opened.

20. In a machine of the class described, an annular shuttle comprising aplurality of hingedly connected sections having a compartment in one ormore of said sections adapted to receive folded wrapping materialloosely therein, a bridge adapted to support the wrapping material atthe gap when the shuttle is opened, and a spring pressed bolt secured inone of said sections adapted to engage the other of said sections tolock the shuttle when closed.

21. In a machine of the class described an annular shuttle comprising aplurality of hingedly connected sections, removable outer peripheralwalls for the shuttle affording an elongated compartment therein for thewrapping material loosely contained therein, mechanism to open theshuttle to release therefrom the article wrapped, and a support in saidshuttle for the wrapping material when the shuttle is opened.

22. In a wrapping machine, a sectional hingedly connected shuttle, meansfor carrying wrapping material in concentric arc shaped folds therein,and means permitting the shuttle to be opened and closed without removalof said wrapping material.-

In a device of the class described, a shuttle for carrying and feedingfolded wrapping paper to an article being wrapped, tensioning mechanism'adjustably mounted upon said shuttle for the paper fed from the shuttle,and folding means pivoted on said shuttle to fold the tensioned portionof the paper.

24. In a device of the class described, hollow rotatable means carryingwrapping material folded therein to apply the same upon an article, anda tension mechanism for tensioning the wrapping material as it leavessaid rotatable means.

25. In a wrapping machine, means carrying paper in arc-shaped folds andacting to apply the paper to an article, a tension mechanism fortensioning the paper feeding to the article, and folding means to'turnthe edge of the tensioned portion of the paper.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. PIERCE. WILLIAM B. PIERCE.

lVitnesses:

LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN, GEORGE R. Moonn.

